Paper-feeding machine.



PATEN-TED MAR. 8, 1904.

T. c. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1901.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

an. l.- E

No; 754,204. PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904. T. G. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1. 1901. no MODEL. v 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

....,..mmmmllllllllllllmmlllmrii-g 87 JJ 66 3 PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904.

T. C. DEXTER. PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1901.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

No. 754,204. PATENTED MAR. 8; 1904. T. G. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1901. N0 MODEL.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

v lllllmflllll llhllmi MillIlllIllllllllllllllllmllllllllllllll|I I l H II"! N0 MODEL.

- PATENTED MAR. 8, 1904. I. G. DEXTER.

PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED we. 1, 1901.

5 SHEETS'-SHEET 5.

fatented March 8,1904."

TALBOT o. DEXTER, F PEA L RIVER, NEW YORK.

PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,204, dated Application filed August 1, 1901.

To all whom it may concern;- I

Be it known thatI, TALBOT O. DEXTER, a citizen of the United River, in the county of Roekland, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Feeding Ma chines, of which the following is a specification.

In my Patent No. 659,'510, granted October 9,1900, I have covered an improved sheet separating mechanism for paper-feeding machines consisting of means for buckling'a sheet at or near oneof its edges, raising the buckled portion of the sheet from the-pile, and shifting the partially-separated sheet bodily upon the pile to insure absolutely against the adherence of the top sheet with the pile at any point throughout its surface. This mechanism completely separates the top sheet and allows it to rest loosely upon the pilwith a film of air under it in readiness to be fed off from plication filed by me onthepile by any suitable mechanism. In apthe31st day of July, 1901, Serial No. 70,329, I have covered another improvement in sheet-separating mechanism for paper-feeding machine's, consisting particularly of mechanism for buckling and raising a sheet at ornear one of its edges and shifting the sheet bodily upon the pile, as in my above-named patent, and in addition to these featurcs having means for stretching or straightening to further facilitate the separating action.

It is recognized in the art of feeding paper that the nearest approach to perfection in separating and removing successive sheets of paper from a pile is the ordinary operation of the hand-feeder. In this manual operation of feeding a sheet from a pile'the operator takes hold of the rear edge of the top sheet and lifts it slightly from the pile and gives it a quick undulating 0r whipping action for the purpose of forcing a wave of air under the entire sheet from its raised edge toward its opposite edge, and immediately after or simultaneously with the whipping action the sheet is pulled backwardly a little upon the pile. This operation completely separates the top sheet from the pile and places a thin film of air under its entire surface, so that the operator can readily States, residing at'Pearl stop, hav1 and raising it to cause it to elevate an edge of the sheet,.--.-. and

out the raised edge of the sheet Serial No. 70,644. (No model.)

move the sheet forwardlyfrom the pile by pushing the sheet from its rear edge.

March 8, 1904.

The ob'ect of my present invention is to im prove the style of sheet-separating mechanism covered by myabove-named applications and produce a separating mechanism which will duplicate the operation of manually separating and feeding a sheet from a pile.

To this end my invention consists mainly of V a pair of cooperating sheet-separating devices adapted to take positive hold upon a sheet at two points and raise one edge of a sheet from a pile, then give the raised edge of the'sheet an undulating or whipping action to force a wave of air under the entire surface of the sheet, and finally shift the sheet bodily upon the pile to insure the complete separation of all parts of the sheet. To facilitate the raising of the edge of the sheet, themechanism is preferably provided with buckling mechanism adapted to buckle, arch, or bend upwardly the two-corners of the sheet adjacent to the edge which is to be raised.

More specifically, my invention consists in providing a sheet-buckling mechanism of the shown in my above-named patent and a resistance-foot or bucklertype application with "ng means for positively engaging a sheet and means for operating give it a whippingor undulating action, shift the sheet bodily upon the pile. The means upon-the resistance-foot or bucklerstop for positively engaging and raising a sheet consists, preferably, of a suction device suitably connected suction and-having meanssuction. 3 p

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will first describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, and

for regulating the with means for creating a afterward point, out the novelty more particu- 1 larly in the annexed claims.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a detail rear elevation showing twoof my improved sheet separating mechanisms in operative position above a pile of sheets, the parts of the mechanisms being in the position assumed at the moment of stretching the raised edge of the sheet above the pile. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of one and its operating means.

of the improved separating mechanisms, show-' ing the parts in the position assumed at the beginning of the separating operation. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing in full lines the position of the parts at the completion of the buckling of a corner of. the sheet and in dotted lines the position of the parts after the edge of the sheet is elevated by the resistance-foot or buckler-stop. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional plan View taken on the line a a of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail rear elevation, partly in section, showing the resistance-foot or bucklerstop, having the sheet-engaging suction device Fig. 6 is a detail diagrammatic View illustrating the several cams which operate the parts of my improved tion will be limited separating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail face view of the cam which moves the resistancefoot or buckler-stop rearwardly of the pile for shifting the sheet bodily upon the pile.

The pile of paper Pto be fed to the folder, printing-press, or other machine is mounted upon an automatically-adjustable platform or table 1, which may be mounted and operated in the usual manner. The side frames of the feeding-machine to which my improvements are applied are not illustrated in the drawings. Suitably supported from the ordinary side frames above the pile-supporting table 1 is a suitable frame upon which the sheet-separating mechanisms are mounted. I have shown only the rear transverse bar 2 of this separator-supporting frame. This bar 2 is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally of the feeding-machine, so as to support the sheet separating mechanisms in proper position above the rear edge of a pile of sheets, which is to be fed from the table or platform. The two sets of sheet-separating mechanism are ad justably mounted upon this rear supportingbar 2, so as to be capable of adjustment transversely of the pile.

The two sheet separating mechanisms which are oppositely arranged at the rear edge of the pile of sheets to be separated are of the same construction, and the detailed descripto one of them.

A suitable bracket (not shown) is adjusta bly mounted upon the supporting-bar 2 and secured in the desired adjusted position by a set-screw. (Not shown.)

12 is a vertically-extending guide-bracket, which is adjustably mounted upon the bracket of the supporting-bar 2. The bracket 12 is formed in its rear vertical face with guideflanges 15, between which is mou'nted the vertically-adju'stable separator-frame 16, formed with an upper oblong portion,'which slides in the guide-bracket 12, and a lower bracket portion of suitable shape to properly support the operative parts of the mechanism hereinafter referred to. An adjusting-screw 17 is journaled in a lug 18 on bracket 12 and threaded through a nut 19, secured to the vertically-sliding separator-frame 16. This adjusting-screw has a crank-handle 20 for operating it. ,By operating the screw 17 the .upon the separator-supporting frame 16.

This short shaft 25 has universal-joint connection 27 with an operating-shaft 28, which is adapted to be driven from the main. shaft of the feeding-machine in any suitable manner. Mounted upon the shaft 25 between its supporting-bearings are several cams which operate the different parts of the separator mechanism. These cams will be referred to in connection with the said parts of the mechanism.

30 is the supporting and operating lever of the buckling-finger proper. This lever 30 is journaled at 31 to the face of the separatorframe 16 and has a heel or lug 32 projecting from it adjacent to its journal, to which lug 32 is journaled a vertically-extending rod 33, which passes up "through a guide-bracket 34, which is secured to the outer face of the nut 19 of the separator-supporting frame. A spiral spring 35 surrounds the rod 33 and is confined between the bracket 34 and the lower end of the rod 33. The spring 35 tends to move the lower curved end 30* of the lever 30 outwardly, or to the left of Figs. 2 and 3.

10 is the buckler-finger proper, formed with a yoked forward end 41, in which is mounted a rubber block 42, which is adapted to engage a sheet of paper by reason of its frictional qualities. journaled at its rear end upon a pin 55, mounted in the lower end 30 of the lever 30. Journaled upon this lever 30 is an antifric tion-roller 66, which operates upon the periphery of a cam 65, keyed to the short shaft 25. By the rotation of the cam the huekling-finger 40 is moved inwardly and outwardly over the pile of sheets.

is a lever journaled to the separator-sup: porting frame upon a pin 71 and having a spring 72 for giving it a downward spring tendency. The lever 70 carries an 'antifriction-roller 73, which operates upon the periphery of a semicircular canr74, keyed to the operating-shaft 25. A link 75 is pivoted at its opposite ends to the buckling-finger 40 and lever 70 for connecting them. By the rotation of thecam 74 in engagement with antifriction-roller 73 the lever 70 is' caused to raise and lower the buckling-finger at'the limit of its inner and outward horizontal movements.

is the holding-down foot or clamp mount- .upon the inner end of an arm or lever'86,

Said buckling-finger 40 iswhich is journaledupon a pin 87, mounted-in the separator-frame. A pin 88 projects upwardly from the journal end of the arm 86 in position to engage a stop-flange 89 on the buckler-frame for the purpose of preventing the holding-down foot 85 falling when there is no pile in place to support it. v I

90 is an arm or lever journ led at 91 upon the separator-frame and carrying in one end an antifrictiomroller '92, which is adapted to be intermittently forced into engagement with the arm '86 of-the holding-down clamp 85. J ournaled in the other-end ofthe lever 90 is an antifriction-roller 93, which travels upon the periphery of a semicircular cam 94, which is'keyed to the operating shaft. 25.- The tension-spring (not-shown) mounted upon the extended "journal 91 ofthe lever 90 holds. the antifriction-roller 93 in engagement with the. cam and tends to throw the antifriction-roller 92fdown into engagement ,with the arm 86 when it is released bythe low portion of the cam 94 reaching the antifriction .-roller 93. The tension of said spring istherebythrown uponthe' holding-down afoot 85' for securely clamping the pile after the top sheet has been buckled from beneath the foot andwhile'the separatedsheet is being fed from the pile.

I 100 is the improved buckler-sto'p or frictionfoot, which in place of the usually employed vblock of rubber is made in the form of asuction-cup of rubber.

' This suction-cup 100 is mounted in the socket 101, formed at the lower end of "an elbow arm or lever 102, which ex-- tends vertically and horizontally and is jour naled at its inner horizontal end on a pin 103,

mounted in the inner end of the long-arm 104,

formed integral with a shortarm 105. The elbow arm or lever 102 is provided with a shoulder 102, with which engages an adjusting-screw 106, threaded in a bracket 107, formed integral with the arm 104. A spring 108 connects the bracket 107 with a point 109 upon the horizontal portion of the elbow arm or lever 102 for holdingthearm 102 in normal position with the shoulder 1'02 in engagement withthe adjusting-screw 106.

The integral arms 104 and constitute a til-cr nk lever, which is journaled to swing horizontally'uponap'in 110, mounted on the vertically-rocking sleeve 1 11,which sleeve 111 is journal upon the -supporting;- frame of the separator. Formed integral 'ith' thezrocking sleeve 111 is an arm 113, carrying an .antifriction-rolle'r 114, which runsiipon a controlling-cam 115, keyed to the operating-shaft 25. A tensionspring 116 is mounted upon the pm 112 and engages the rocking sleeve 111 to'cause the.

antifriction-roller 114'to closely follow the controlling-cam 115 and force the pneumatic buckler-stop 100 downwardly toward the pile (with ayielding pressure) when the low parts of'the controlling-cam115 pass the antifric- I "The cam 115 is formed with a main high portion 115, an auxiliary high portion;115 a main low portion 115, and an intermediate low portion 115*. The purpose of this form of cam is to allow the suction device 100 to move into engagement with the ing-frame of the separator.

a pm 112, extendingirom pile when main low part 115 reaches roller 114, then drop to a'position-alittle above'the top of pile'when intermediate low part 115 reaches roller 114,'andfinally rise to its highest point again when auxiliary high part 115 reaches roller 114. During these movements of the devices 100 their suctional grip upon the sheet is. maintained, these movements serving to simulate the whipping or undulat ing motion imparted to the raised edge of the sheet when feeding sheets by hand for the purpose of forcing a wave of air under the sheet. sheet and start to move it from the pile while the devices 100 are still in engagement and. are holding the edge of the sheet in raised po-' sition. The suction of devices 100 isbi'oken to release the raised edge of the sheet immediately after the feeding-off devices start to operate.

, is a face-cam keyed'to the shaft 25 and,

formed with a projection 120*,which is adapted to engage a finger 121, integral with and extending'at a right angle from the arm 105. is a spring connectedatv 126 with the arm 104' and at 127 with a part mounted upon the pin 112, which is rigid with thesupport- This spring 125 holds the pivotally-mounted supporting-arms of the suctional buckler-stop in their normal forward position, in which position the finger 121 of arm 105 is in close contact with the lower part of the'face-cam 120. When the projection 120 of cam the supporting-arms of the buckler-stop are forced rearwardly of the pile, said arms moving upon the journaled support 110. This action takes place after the rear edge of the sheet has been elevated for the first time and prior to or at the moment when the raisededge of the sheet is dropped to its intermediate position. This movement is for the purpose of moving the sheet bodily upon the pile to completely separate it throughout its entire area.

Extending up from the suction-cup 100 is an air-tube 130, which communicates with the valve-casing 131. 132' is another air-pipe leading from the valve-casing to a suctionump or other means for creating a vacuum in the suction-cup of the buckler-stop. In the valve-casingis mounted a vertically-sliding cam 135, adjustably mounted upon the oper-' ating-shaft 25. The construction of the con- The feeding-0E- devices. engage the trolling-valve for regulating the suction in the buckler-stop is the same as fully described in my above-named application, filed on the 31st day of July, 1901, Serial No.70,329, in which case the suction is applied to the buc kling-finger.

is an arm or pin 31 alongside of the lever 30 and carrying in its lower free end an antifriction-roller Y lever journaled upon the .for the second time.

141, which runs upon a cam 142, keyed to the shaft 25. A long spring 145 connects the free end of lever 140 with the lower end of the arm 102. The purpose of the spring 145 is to pull the suctional buckler-stop toward the side of the pile after the sheet has been elevated The spring 145 is nor mallyweaker than the spring 108,- so as to allow spring 108 to normally hold the bucklerstop in its inner position; but when the high portion of the cam 142, reaches the antifriction-roller 141 the lever 140 will be forced outwardly to a sufficient extent to cause the power of spring 145 to be increased sufliciently to overcome spring 108, the result of which will be that the elbow-arm 102, carrying the suction-foot 100, will move upon its journal- 103 toward the side of the pile. As this operation occurs simultaneously at both sides of the pile, the result will be the stretching of the raised edge of the sheet above the pile after its second elevation and just prior to the action of the feeding-off devices.

The operation of my improved sheet mechanism may be briefly described as follows: When the operation of separating the sheet is started, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and in full lines in Fig. 4. -The two sheet-buckling fingers at the opposite sides of the pile of sheets move inwardly to the position indicated by full lines in Fig. 3, forming two buckles or arches X in the rear corners of the top sheet of the pile. At this moment the valves controlling the suction in the cups 100 open up communication with the suctionpipes of the exhaust mechanism, causing said cups 100 to take a positive suctional hold upon the buckled edge of the sheet. The bucklingfingers are then moved upwardly away from the pile and start on their outward strokes in elevated position. At the same time the suction-cups 100 are elevated from the pile into the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 5, carrying the rear edge of the sheet with them and shifting the sheet bodily upon the pile. The suction-cups are then moved rearwardly for again moving the sheet rearwardly upon the pile and are then dropped' to their intermediate position above the pile, and raised again to their extreme elevated positions. While the suction-cups are moving rearwardly of the pile the springs 145 are operating to draw the suction-cups outwardly toward the edges of the pile, so as to stretch the raised rear edge of the shifted sheet in elevated position, as shown in Fig. 1. The suction is immediately afterward broken, the feeding-off devices having taken hold of the sheet, which is supported loosely upon a film of air in readiness to be fed from the pile. Before the separating operation is commenced upon the next sheet the tension upon spring 145 is removed and the other parts are returned to starting position, as above explained.

I desire to claim, broadly, a sheet-separating mechanism of the buckler type in which the buckler-stops have means for positively engaging and raising the buckled edge of asheet; also, such a mechanism in which such bucklerstops'have means for moving a sheet bodily upon a pile; also, such mechanisms in which such buckler-stops have means for stretching the buckled and raised edge of a sheet. I also desire to claim, broadly, a sheet-separating mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating devices adapted to take positive hold upon a sheet at two points and move the engaged parts up and down with relation to the'pile, and thereby impart to the sheet a whipping or undulating movement for forcing a wave of air under the sheet to completely separate it; also, such a mechanism which is capable of moving the sheet bodily upon the pile, and such a mechanism which is capable of stretching the raised edge of the sheet.

My improved mechanism causes the sheets to go through the same movements as the hand-. feeder.

The direction of movement of the sheet upon the pile after it has been buckled is not essential to my invention; but I prefer to shift it rearwardly on the pile, as described.

I prefer to em ploy the pneumatic or suction devices as the means by which the buckler stops or feet engage a sheet for lifting or moving it; but I would have it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of suction devices.

It is unnecessary to use the air-blast devices for blowing air under the sheets with my' improved separating mechanism. The undulating or whipping action, which is very rapidly imparted to the sheets, is suflicientto completely separate large sheets throughout their entire area.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is i 1. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating devices adapted to take positive hold upon a sheet at two points and move the engaged parts up and down with relation to the pile and thereby impart a whipping or undulating motion to the entire sheet, substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to first buckle a' sheet at two points and then take positive hold upon the buckled parts of the sheet and move them up and down to impart a whipping or undulating motion to the sheet, substantially as set forth.

3. Ina paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to first buckle a sheet in'two places at or near one edge, then raise the buckled edge of the sheet from the pile, and finally move the buckled edge toward and away from the pile and impart a whipping or undulating motion to the sheet, substantially as set forth.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, the combi nation ofa support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to buckle a sheet in two places at or near one edge, raise the buckled edge of the sheet from the pile, shift the sheet bodily upon the pile, and impart an up-and-down motion to the raised edge of the sheet, substantially as set forth. I 5. In a'paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to impart a whipping or undulating motion to a sheet and stretch or straighten out an edgeof the sheet between them in raised position, substantially as set fOItll; I 'f 6. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to buckle a sheet in two places at or near one edge, raise the buckled edge of the sheet from the pile, impart a whipping or undulating motion to the sheet, and stretch or straighten out the raised edge of the sheet between them above the pile, substantially as set forth.

r 7. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile ofsheets, with a pair of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms adapted to buckle a sheet in two places at or near one edge, raise the buckled edge of the sheet, impart a whipping o'r'undulating motion to the sheet, shift the sheet bodily upon the pile, and stretch or straighten out the raised edgeof the sheet between them above the pile, substantially as set forth.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination .of a support for a pile of sheets, and means for feeding sheets from a pile, with a pair .of cooperating sheet-separating mechanisms.

adapted to buckle a sheet in two places at or near oneedge, raise the buckled edge of the sheet, impart a whipping or undulating motion to the sheet, shift the sheet bodily upon the pile, and stretch or straighten out the raised edge of the sheet between them above the pile, substantially as set forth.

- 9. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of 'a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheet buckling separating mechanism including a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, said foot or stop having means for positively engaging and raising the buckled edge of the sheet, substantially as set forth.

10. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheetbuckling separating mechanism ,in-

.cluding a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, having means for positively 7 sheet buckling device, with engaging and raising a sheet, "and means for, imparting an up-and-down motion to said foot or stop; whereby the buckled sheet will be given a'whipping or undulating movement, substantially as set forth. 11. In a paperfeeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheetbuckling separating mechanism includinga buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, said foot or stop having means for positively engaging and raising a sheet, and means for imparting approximately horizontal and upand-down'movements to said foot .or stop; whereby the. buckled sheet will be given a whipping or undulating movement and will be shifted bodily upon the pile, substantially as set forth. i

12. In a paper-feeding machine, the combi.- nation of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheet-buckling separating mechanism includinga buckling-finger and'a cooperating foot or stop, said foot or stop having means for positively. engaging and raising a sheet, means for reciprocating and raising and 'lowering the buckling-finger, means for controlling the engagement of the foot or stop with the sheet, and means for imparting an upaanddown movement 'to the foot or stop, whereby a sheet will be buckled and given an undulating lclir whipping motion, substantially as set fort nation of a support fora pile of sheets,-and a i an independent pneumatic or suctional sheet-separating device adapted to engage and raise the buckled edge of a sheet from the pile and impart a whipping or undulating motion to the sheet, substantially as set forth.

nation'of a support for a'pile of sheets,

14. In a paper feeding machine,

and a sheet-buckling device, with an independent ,of a sheet from the pile,

pneumatic or'suctional sheet-separating device adapted to engage and raise the buckled edge impart an up-anddown movement to said edge of the sheet, and shift the sheet bodily upon the pile, substantially as set forth. I v

15.- In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheet-buckling separating mechanism including a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, said foot or stop having pneumatic or suc' tional means for positively engaging and raising a sheet, means controlling the suction in said' foot or stop, and meansfor imparting an up-anddown motion to said foot or stop whereby the sheet will be iven a whipping or undulating movement, substantially as set. forth, i 1 16. In a paper-feeding machine, the combi -natio'n of a support for a pile of sheets, with a sheetbuckling separating mechanism inthe coinbi- 13. In a paper-feeding machine, the combi-l loo said foot or'stop, and means for imparting approximately horizontal and vertical movements to said suctional foot or stop; whereby the buckled sheet will be given a whipping or undulating movement and will be shifted bodily upon the pile, substantially as set forth.

17 In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with -movement to the foot or stop;

a sheet-buckling separating mechanism including a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot "or stop, said foot or stop having pneumatic or suctional means for positively engaging and raising a sheet, means for reciprocating and raising and lowering the buckling-finger, means for controlling the suctional engagement of the foot or stop with the sheet,

and means for imparting an up-and-down whereby a sheet will be buckled and will be glven an undulating or whipping motion to separate it from the pile, substantially as set forth.

18. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, and means for separating a part of a sheet from the pile at or near one edge, with a sheet-moving device having means for positively engaging and raising the separated part of the sheet, a horizontally and vertically movable support for said sheet-moving device, means for raising and lowering said support, means for moving said support horizontally, and means controlling the engagement of th e sheetmoving device with a sheet, substantially as set forth.

19. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with means for separating sheets including a vertically-rocking support, a sheet-moving device mounted upon said rocking support and capable of lateral movement thereon, a spring nor mally restraining said sheet-moving device from lateral movement, and a cam adapted to move said'device laterally against the action of said spring, substantially as set forth.

20. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a-pile of sheets, and a sheet-buckling device, with a vertically-rocking member, a cam for operating said member, a laterally-movable arm pivoted to said rocking member, a spring maintaining said arm in normal position, acam for moving said arm laterally, a buckling foot or stop having means for engaging and raising a sheet and mounted upon said laterally-movable arm,substantially as set forth.

21. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with means for separating sheets including a vertically and laterally "movable siTe'et' engaging and raising device, oppositely-acting springs engaging said device, and means for increasing the tension of one of said springs to cause said device to be shifted laterally, substantially as set forth.

22. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with means for separating sheets including a vertically and laterally movable sheet engaging and raising device, a spring holding said device in normal position, a second spring engaging said device" and actingupon it in an opposite direction, a pivoted lever to which said second spring is connected, and a cam ppeliating upon said lever, substantially as set ort 23. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with sheet-separating mechanism including a vertically rocking member, an arm pivotally mounted upon said rocking member and capable of moving laterally toward the rear edge of the pile, a second arm pivotally mounted upon the first arm and capable of moving laterally toward the side of the pile, a sheetmoving device mounted upon said second arm and having means for engaging and raisinga sheet, and means for operating said pivoted arms and said rocking support, substantially as set forth.

. 24. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with.

sheet-separating mechanism including a Vertically-rocking member, means for operating it, an arm 104 pivoted at 110 to said rocking member, an arm 102 pivoted at 103' to'the arm 104:, a shoulder 102 on arm 102, an adjustable stop 106 carried by arm 1'04 and adapted to engage the shoulder 102, a spring 108,

a sheet-moving device carried by arm 102 and havingmeans for engaging and raising a sheet, and means for moving arms 104 and 102 upon their pivots, substantially as set forth.

25. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination'of a support for a pile of sheets, with two oppositely arranged sheet separating mechanisms, each including a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, each foot or stop having means for engaging and raising a sheet, and means for imparting up-and-down movements to said feet or stops simultaneously; whereby the buckled sheet will be given awhipping or undulating movement, substantially as set forth.

26. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for a pile of sheets, with two oppositely arranged sheet separating mechanisms, each including a buckling-finger and a cooperating foot or stop against which the sheet is buckled, each foot or stop having means for engaging and raising a sheet, and

means for imparting up-and-dwn and rearward movements to said feet or stops simultaneously; whereby the buckled sheet will be given a whipping or undulating movement,

stops simultaneously; whereby the buckled sheet Will be given a Whipping or undulating movement and be shifted bodily upon the pile and the buckled edge of the sheet stretched or 5 straightened out in raised position above the pile, substantially as set forth.

TALBOT C. DEXTER. Witnesses:

J. GREEN, WM. E. KNIGHT. 

